Business Travel and Alternatives to Air Travel

Title: WWF report on business air travel – “Moving On – why flying less means more to business”

Date: March 2011

Author: WWF

Length: 21 pages

Summary: The overall aim of the study was to establish whether business travel and meeting practices among the UK’s leading companies had changed in the last two years and if the recession has influenced this change. As one of WWF’s priorities is to promote alternatives to business flying, they will use the results of this survey to inform their political and campaigning work in this area. The key findings of the study were that: • 86% of companies are either reducing their carbon footprint from business travel or intend to do so.

• 47% have reduced the number of business flights they’ve taken in the last two years.
• 63% of companies that responded now have a policy in place to reduce business flights, or are intending to implement one. This reduction in business flying is likely to be permanent.
• Of those companies which have cut their flying, 85% do not intend to return to ‘business as usual’ levels of flying. From this same group, the vast majority agreed that it’s possible for a company to fly less and remain both profitable and competitive.

Summary: “Travelling Light” is a report into the appetite of British business to reduce its flying, with a focus on the possibilities of ‘virtual meetings’ through videoconferencing. The report also serves to launch WWF-UK’s campaign “One in Five” for companies to cut one in five business flights, over five years.

Key findings

62% of companies surveyed are already reducing their business travel footprint.

A further 24% of companies are currently developing plans to do so.

89% of companies expect they will want to fly less over the next 10 years.

85% of companies say that videoconferencing can help them reduce their flying.

89% of companies believe that videoconferencing can improve their productivity.

Summary:With a decision due soon on whether Heathrow should be expanded, CBT released research showing how the Government could reduce business and other flights by boosting alternatives such as rail travel and teleconferencing. The research – a literature review and a survey of 11 companies from a range of sectors – found that businesses already attribute many benefits to rail travel and teleconferencing over flying. By improving these alternatives and raising awareness of their benefits, the Government could cut the demand for flights and the need for airport expansion.